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Thursday, August 13, 2009

Hurry Up and Wait

Okay, so how do I compete with Jules’ kissing post? Whoa. Oh my stars. I mean, seriously, I can’t bat in the same park with that girl when it comes to well-placed lippage going down, so I don’t even try. A good writer recognizes his/her strengths and I’m tipping a hat of praise and recognition to my friend Julie for some truly ‘inspirational’ forward momentum.

Still fanning myself.

So this one’s for Melanie because she openly recognized a problem that occurs often in this industry.

Waiting.

Yuck. We all hate it. We all experience it. And one of the toughest waits of all is when you’re thiiiiiis close to reaching the gold ring, the gold medal, the blue ribbon but it doesn’t happen quickly enough to suit us.

Treasure that time. If we all yammer about God’s timing, God’s plan, God’s godliness, then we’re flying in his face to out-maneuver him. In general it frustrates us and amuses him. Not that I begrudge the good Lord a laugh at my expense. He’s had plenty. BUT…

Why do this to yourself?

Waiting is a part of this business. We experience that with the first contests we enter. Some contests take months to announce finals, and then more months to announce winners.

Here’s a shocker:

You’re not Priority One on their lists. Same with editors. Agents. Art teams. Marketing crews. Booksellers. Learning to wait, to follow God’s curve, is clutch or you’ll drive yourself and your family crazy. It’s hard to write if your otherwise sweet, loving husband Jimmy Hoffa’s you for:

1. Whining2. Crabbing3. Moping4. Grumbling5. Can’t use that word here but you all know what it is6. Pouting7. Crying8. Snapping

Hey, we’ll be glad to come to the funeral AFTER the local police exhume the remains, but in the meantime, there’s a better way.

WORK.

All right, stop groaning. Are ya’ kiddin’ me? You knew where I was going all along, didn’t you? And yes, there are OTHER ways to pass the time, but you can’t do those ALL DAY, especially if you’ve got kids, jobs, appointments or a limited libido. If that’s the case, see Julie’s post below. It should help.

I work on multiple projects at once, in varying stages. Because I work two jobs I have to respect the clock and use my time diligently. The minutes at the computer must pay. My minutes away from the computer must pay.

Boring?

Not on your life. I love it. I’m pushed to create, submit, edit, plan, create some more because I don’t have idle time. I love to write. This is a life-long dream, a long-awaited opportunity, the moment of truth, the beginning of a new stage and phase, the life of a published author.

OH MY STARS!!!! Do not get caught with your pants down (metaphorically speaking) when that call comes. Have a stockpile. Have two. Your fingers should be cruising keys every chance you get. The hard drive should be humming the little train’s mantra…

“I think I can, I think I can…”

Aimless waiting accomplishes nothing. Idle hands/devil’s workshop, etc., etc.I like to write one book while laying down tracks/notes for an upcoming book, series, etc. Loose moments can be quick research finds, bookmarking pages, grabbing ideas, photos, whatever I need to help me ‘cement’ the next book in my head because I’m a SOTP writer. No big outlines, fuzzy boards, pics, music, Post-Its, sticky notes.

Nada. Nothing. Zilch. Zip.

I do write a quick overview in my “Notes” file, to cover the basics. It might be a page. Half-a-page. Two pages. Remember, I said “quick” overview. And I keep a name file because I tend toward repetition.

So I’m writing one book, researching another and letting a third ‘rest’. Imagine bread dough rising. I’m much better at final edits if I walk away from the book and immerse myself in something else for a couple of weeks. Then I return to the finished book after it’s had time to ‘rise’, edit one more time on the computer and then hard copy edit.

If you’re the type that thinks hard copy edits have gone the way of the dinosaur, I disagree. And maybe it’s just me. Probably so. But I find so many of those goofy, little mistakes when I sit and read on paper as opposed to a gray-screen. I notice repetitive phrasing, words, missing periods (not the pregnancy kind), spelling mistakes, etc. And there aren’t many by that time, but enough to need one last sweep of the broom because unprofessional manuscripts are… unprofessional. They should be as squeaky clean as you can get them before that big send-off.

And then you wait. But not really, because you should be knee-deep in another project already. Remember the one you started while this one fermented? It’s so much easier to jump back and forth if you’re already in the thick of a plotline than trying to formulate one out of your head with nothing in the works. That’s the kind of thing that dead-stops you right there and you start spinning wheels.

Focus forward. Editors, agents, contest coordinators and judges are busy. That’s why there’s a suggested time period. If you’re expecting your manuscript to be the one that flies off the desk, into the editor’s hands, and into production in two weeks time, yeah, well…

Take a right at Utopia and meet me in Nirvana.

Use this God-given time to make yourself better, stronger, more saleable. Some of my kids were track stars. (Read: encouraging mother. Okay, make that pushy mother, I can own that) The track mantra is:

Citius. Altius. Fortius.Swifter. Higher. Stronger.

There’s a reason the Olympics use this as their slogan. To be the best you must run with the best. Put in the time. Be patient, work hard. And then harder. Because if you REALLY love this, this whole writing gig, you should be embracing that next project full speed ahead.

And if you’re not, come on by, grab some coffee and we’ll have Mary be nice to you while I offer a swift kick. One way or another, we’ve got your back.

51 comments
:

Great post, Ruthy! You're the go-to Seeker if I need butt kicking. :-)

Wonderful advice for all of us. Waiting never ends really. Once we sell, we wait to hear back from a proposal. When we turn in a book, we wait for our revision letter. Great advice to never waste that most precious commodity--time.

I brought cantaloupe and cottage cheese this morning. Weird I know, but I like it. And a luscious homemade strudel to go with your coffee. Line up for the buffet, but watch your back. LOL

Janet, cottage cheese and 'lope sounds perfect! Thanks for bringing it by. And this strudel is to die for. Yummy. I love strudels. And I love frozen phyllo dough so I don't have to monkey around stretching strudel dough across the kitchen table.

That's work!

Deb, I love the new pic!! You rock!

And yeah, I love computer editing, the saving time and paper, but I need to hard copy edit at least twice.

First about 10-12 chapters in, to make sure my plot points, threads make sense and touch as needed.

Then the last chapters (8-10, whatever) to do the same thing. Then I shelve it.

And move on.

And come back.

Madelyn Hunter spoke to a local writers' groups several years ago. She had 7-10 books complete when she finally got the call.

Her publisher (I may be somewhat skewed on details here) recognized her talent and fast-tracked her opening series by releasing the books back-to-back.

Punched her to the bestselling list.

That wouldn't/couldn't have happened if she didn't have the books done. Ready. Complete.

You're doing great, kiddo. Keep up the good work. And I'm still waiting for a time to meet in person. We're so lame, Deb!

I'm a hardcopy, red Flair Tip pen editor, too. Drag it off someplace far from my computer where I can read it aloud, see how it sounds, how it flows. Determine if the characters "sound" like themselves.

But I have to admit, I'd NEVER have ever finished a book in the pre-word processor days. How did people do it? I write and rewrite and rewrite some more -- change words, move paragraphs, switch chapters and scenes entirely. Delete. Add.

I GREATLY admire the pre-word processor crowd. How did Margaret Mitchell ever finish Gone With the Wind without one?? (I'm sure Julie can tell us!)

Ahhhh ... the feel of common sense resurging to my brain in sync with the steady flow of blood as it thunders to my posterior. Sigh. NOBODY gives a better kick in the butt than our Ruthy.

You're absolutely right, my friend, (gritting teeth here) because waiting is part and parcel of the game no matter who you are, pubbed or prepubbed, and the smart, disciplined ones make good use of that time. That's only one of the many things I admire about you, Ruthy, and I wish I had one tenth of your bulldozer mentality for moving steadily forward no matter the obstacles.

But I have the next best thing ... a dear friend with a true talent for well-placed kicks in the derriere. And I sure needed one today, so thank you.

Now to put my butt in the chair and write ... and I will ... uh, as soon as the throbbing goes away.

Well, I'm glad I came by early, Ruthy, since you wrote this one for me!!! So honored and all that other, uh-hem, stuff.

I hear you loud and clear: No whining and keep working! I just think it would be a lot easier to treat this like a job if I were actually getting paid.

I have started another project, plus am plotting two more in my head. How's that? And I've written 4 books in the last 5 years, plus I have gotten two kids from age 2 and 6 to age 7 and 11, so that's pretty good, right? And my husband hasn't divorced me. Frankly, I feel like throwing myself a party! Not sure if that's what you had in mind, but thanks, Ruthy!

Thanks Ruthy,I know how you feel. Because of my 'day' job and family, I feel like my writing time HAS to be productive.

I'm with you on hard-copy editing too. I do a much better job editing if I can hold the paper in my hand and look at an entire page at once - especialy for those first few KODs Julie mentioned yesterday.

There's always this niggling thought in the back of my head about the contest...or the submission, but it doesn't overwhelm because there are so many other things to do.

It's nice to hear you express the same things I feel - I LOVE to write. It's a joy and my brain is always thinking up other ideas. My poor kids walk in on me talking to characters all the time - I don't know how that will effect this mental processes, but...oh well.

I have more to add. Since I'm the original spark for this post, you guys don't mind humoring me, I hope.

I recently read this wonderful book called Welcome Home: Our Family's Journey to Extreme Joy by Kimberley Woodhouse. This book was so good for me, could have been written just for me. Whenever Kim had something catastrophic happen in her family, which was about every three months, she felt God impressing her on that verse, "Consider it pure joy when you go through trials of many kinds." You probably know the rest of that passage, about persevering and becoming mature in Christ. And it applies so well to writing. Frankly, the things that are happening in my writing life, I do consider them trials. All the waiting, the disappointment, the rejection, it is a trial. How do I consider it pure joy? That has been the question. And I think I'm finally doing it. It's simply supernatural, and it takes focus, but it is possible. I have the joy of knowing that God is working all of this out for my good. I have the joy of knowing how much richer my life has been since I started writing again. And in other unexplainable ways, I can feel the joy in this crazy, painful waiting. I'm incapable of ignoring the painful parts of it, but the joy of the Lord is my strength.

When I change mine over it messes up the spacing so be sure to keep your original Courier New/12 or TNR 12, whatever, and overlook the spacing differences.

And how DOES your computer read to you? Very honestly, I'd probably shoot the thing. Seriously, I get annoyed at the computer lady-voice at the U-Scan at Tops, the grocery store where I work in the bakery at night.

"Please, place your item in the bag...bag."

"Please wait for an attendant."

"Please take your groceries home and never buy from us again..."

:)

Tell us how that works, Ruth. I'll withhold open fire until I hear more.

Glynna, I love thinking of how they struggled to write in the pre-computer, word-processor days.

Oh my stars.

Freehand???? (Remember Jo's manuscript in Little Women???)

GWTW?

To Kill a Mockingbird? Harper Lee re-wrote and re-worked that dozens of times if the reports are accurate. Poor Atticus probably didn't know WHO his neighbors were by the time she was done, LOL!

And we dare to whine over edits. Oh mylanta, we're wusses!

I remember how excited I was to get my first electric typewriter. I was in my twenties, earned it with points from being a (yes, bossy even then) Tupperware lady and OH! How amazed I was at being able to plug it in. Work faster.

Then my Brother Word Processors. The first one was a gift from a restaurant customer who knew I longed to be a writer and I was their regular waitress... They brought that baby in to me and I nearly fell through the floor with gratitude.

And my first computer was a gift from one of Dave's cousins who heard my dream and sent over an old computer to us. Dial up. AOL.

And now I hammer away on the laptop Zach got us for Christmas. So much history in the stories of these typewriters.

And I think it shows that I have a significant sponge/leech side to me that SO MANY people hooked me up with their stuff at no charge.

While parts of this business are tedious and aggravating, what job isn't?

And if we expect the world of editors to fall all over themselves to grab us, we're in LaLa land. I've come to understand over the last few years that it's actually okay for us to be tested, to prove we're reliable, stalwart, trustworthy... And that we actually come through with our work. How hard it must be on editors and/or agents with authors who don't follow the rules or think themselves and their lives beyond deadlines. God's given them the extreme opportunity and they're messing with it. Sure stuff happens sometimes, but too many authors get jaded and think they're irreplaceable.

I remember looking at a farmhouse long years back. We loved it, put an offer in, and it didn't work out after months and months of having our house on the market. Cleaning, picking up after four kids, working nights, picking up after four kids some more, pregnant...

yawn....

Fast forward a bunch of years. We planned on building on farm land. Had the plans, our house up for sale, everything working forward.

Then our Realtor called and said, "I've got this house I'm about to list. It's meant for Ruth. I knew it the minute the owner called me, so I want you to come by and see it as soon as it's in the listing bank because I have to go into the hospital for surgery and can't be there, but I want you in it first."

It was love at first sight. We knew it. And we had to juggle selling the building lot, the farmland and the house to make the deal, and it all went through with less than 24 hours to spare before we got "bumped" by a non-contingent offer.

I have no doubt it was meant to be. And the first one years before wasn't meant to be.

God's timing. Our impatience. Such a conundrum.

So we work and grow. Or we stagnate. Totally up to us.

Melanie, I love the sounds of that book. She sounds like my kind of gal.

God Bless You Ruth Logan Herne! I depend on you to kick my hind end when I slack off and to look at my work with your kind, critical eye. Of course -- at times -- I do cringe when you nail me for rambling : )

Uh-oh, I hear the whip snapping. Better to get to work...

Thanks for the timely reminder. If we want to succeed in this business, we better start thinking of our writing as our job!!

I am so changing my name to Nora... I don't think Stephen would serve me well.

Anyhoo, Ruthy,

Thanks for the congrats. As for the tale of the two contracts...

Remember last month or so I told you how I got a contract then lost it. Well, as it worked, Harvest House turned it down, but Desert Breeze still wanted it and they took another book that I had self pubbed years before.

After the debacle of having the first book pulled, I sat and waited for the editor to look over my other books certain that they wanted nothing to do with me.

They weren't going to like my other books, they weren't going to answer me. They weren't . . . My husband assured me they would and told me to be patient,and keep working on the other story I'm trying to finish so I can push it at the ACFW conference.

Kind of like your post, Ruthy

and then suddenly, well it's been years, they offered for the two books.

I wasn't about to turn them down. One of the books has been sent to several houses and they tell me while it's interesting and the writing is decent, the story matter is hard, and they don't believe a new writer, like me, can handle such depth.

The second is a self-pubbed book that several houses won't touch at this point, so Praise the Lord someone is willing to give it a chance.

The third one I sent wasn't accepted, but I shall not complain

Two out of three ain't bad.Because of the mess up with Touched By Mercy it was put back in the cache and won't be released till 2011.In The Manor of the Ghost will be released next June.

I keep reminding myself of how we did not have children when WE wanted to. Instead, our kids bracket their Dear Cousin, an only child and missionary kid. So when they came home on furlough he had instant family to squabble with. Funny how that worked.

Knowing that I've had to wait on other stuff to happen does not really help, though, at this point.

Last year at ACFW an agent was interested in The Great American Novel. Then when I sent them a proposal they asked for the full, then they went to work trying to sell it.

A few months ago I was breathless. Now that it hasn't gone anywhere I'm bummed.

I'm still trying to get in 1,000 words a day on a subsequent story. Entered contests (nothing to write home about) and sent off short stories (rejected)

But ... OK ... I will keep plugging along.

That's good advice, that we should rotate our stock so to speak and keep working.

If I'm in a series, I may move to the next book because I don't usually make huge plot changes in the previous books, just little nudges and tweaks to layer better. Improve the wording, make my point. And cut useless words, of course.

So I would say it's usually the next book in a series, but if I'm playing for funny, sweet contemporaries, I might jump genres because it's a complete break from inspy work. It's kind of like brain-cleaning. Cobweb dusting. Avoiding redundancy.

If I'm in the same series for that one, I'm probably researching for a completely different series, again mostly for the freshness factor.

Hey, my claim to fame is I used to know a photo double for Liz Taylor. No lie. Joanne actually stood in for Elizabeth Taylor for pics and photo shoots because Liz was busy. This was a Long Time Ago.

Although shorter, when Joanne was dolled up, they were dead ringers. How funny is that????

And in the context I knew Joanne, she was a mother of a brood, probably 40-ish when I met her, and you can just imagine how much different she looked in ordinary life chasing a houseful of kids around.

Great post and I hate to wait, when I get dressed and ready to do somewhere I want to leave even if I might be 2 hous early, can't stand waiting around. Has anyone told you that you look so much like June Carter Cash used to look when she was young. I have noticed that before when I read your blogs and interviews.May God bless